China holds military drills in mock blockade of Taiwan

Dec. 29 (UPI) -- China began holding live-fire military drills around Taiwan on Monday, creating a simulation of a blockade of the island's major ports as a warning to "separatist forces."

The army, navy, air force and rocket force are participating in the drills, China said. The Chinese military calls the drills "Justice Mission 2025."

Taiwan is a self-governing nation that China claims as its own. On Friday, China sanctioned U.S. companies and their leadership after the United States announced an $11.1 billion arms deal with Taiwan on Dec. 18.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his party are urging Taiwan to accept "peaceful reunification," but the majority of Taiwanese people don't want Chinese rule.

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On Monday, Taiwan's defense ministry said it had seen 28 ships, two of which had entered Taiwan's contiguous zone. It detected at least 89 warplanes and four amphibious assault ships.

The drills are "a stern warning against 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces and external interference forces," Col. Shi Yi, spokesperson for the Chinese People's Liberation Army's eastern command, told The Guardian.

Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, said that "external parties" are pushing the region closer to war.

"Any sinister schemes to obstruct China's reunification are doomed to fail," Lin said.

A Chinese analyst said the drills are justified.

"Despite repeated warnings from China, the U.S. and Taiwan engaged in serious collusion and provocation. The PLA's decisive action was a reasonable, legal and forced response," Fu Zhengnan, researcher at the PLA's Academy of Military Science, told Chinese media.

Taiwan's transportation ministry has said flights will be diverted away from dangerous areas as the drills continue.